Securing trim panels



Sept. 26, 1939.

B. c. PLACE 2,174,447

SECURING TRIM PANELS Filed July 17, 1936 I I g Bion C Place mi, uwy w 6W Patent d Sept. 26, 1939 I I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SECURING TRIM PANELS Bion 0. Place, Detroit, Mich, assignor of one hall to George E. Gagnier, Detroit, Mich.

Application 'July 17, 1936, Serial N6. 91,218

13 Claims. (Cl. 24-73) This invention involves a novel fastener and ar-- and the foundation and in which the fastener is rangement for securing trim panels to the inso constructed that after it has been assembled terior of automobile or similar bodies. More with respect to the foundation and force applied particularly, the invention involves an improved to press the shank in the perforation in the supspring stud fastener having an improved head porting structure, the exertion of said force will 5 part designed to facilitate interlocking of the not have a tendency to cause the fastener to move fastener with respect to foundation of the panel n a d r o normal to the Plane of the foundeand to provide a connection between the head i0n-' part and the foundation free of play between said Another je of the invention is to Provide part and the foundation after the fastener is in an improved spring d fa ner c nstruct 10 its holding position. from a single piece of wire to include portions of Trim panel spring stud fasteners of the type head parts that'bear against the side of the founthat are intended to be used with foundations ti n pp to h t which h uph lstery having openings in alignment with perforations material is pp d- 16 in the supporting structure, as heretofore used, St ll another object of the invention is to p were constructed in such a way that specially Vide an improved Sp S u aste including formed openings had to be provided in the an expansible and contractible shank consisting foundation permitting the passage of the head y of tWO legs Which Carry head Parts Of hookand the subsequent interlocking of the fastener like formation, the hooks in the d p p 20 to the foundation. The formation of said opening in pp di ec ons. 2 ings has a tendency t weaken th foundation A still further object of the invention is to 'inasmuch as the openings are relatively large Provide an p o Spring Stud ener 60nmeasured in several directions. In order to avoid Stflieted of Wire in such o m that the contracsuch weakening of the foundation it has also tien 0f the Shank Causes an expansion of the been proposed to apply metal fastener attaching head o Contact With Opposite Walls Of the 25 plates to the foundation at the points, at which Opening in the foundation in which the head the fasteners are to be applied, said attaching t O t ste s DOSed. plates being provided with a fastener receiving A Still further object (if the invention is to p opening. The latter construction has its disad- Vide an improved Spring S ud fastener constructed vantages inasmuch as the cost of the trim panel of Wire d including WO head parts that are 30 foundations is substantially increased by said formed to P s e h other l ke the arms of a plates scissors in order that the head may be very sub- Spring stud fasteners of the type designed for stantially contracted, thus permitting it to be can use in securing trim panels of the kind, in which tered. in an Opening y much aller than the the openings in the panels are aligned with the opening in the ppo S tu and Subse- 35 openings in the supporting structure as hereto quefitly expanded therein to bring about a Sat sfore proposed, have also had th disadvantage factory interlock between the fastener and the that the fasteners, when assembled in the founfolmdationdation, were capable of moving to a substantial Still further Objects of the invention will ep- 40 degree in a direction normal to the plane of the P as a description thereof Proceeds With 40 foundation. This required great care in forcing erence to the accompa y drawing in w c the shanks of the fasteners in the perforations in Figure 1 iS a rear V ew f 8- a ent of a trim the supporting structures, since if the pressure, panel having e Of the improved fasteners inforcing th fastener i position was t applied terlocked with the foundation thereof through an directly against the head of the fastener said flp h 0i Symmetrical 45 head was liable to be forced through the panel Figure 2 1s a t ansverse sectional view taken covering. on the plane indicated by the line 22 in Figure The primary purpose of the present inv ti 1, the shank of the fastener being entered in an is to provide a fastener designed for use in securp g in a supporting structure.

ing trim panels, the foundationsof which have gure 3 is a diagra a c V ew Show ng a 50 openings disposed in alignment .with the openfragment of a foundation and the fastener of the ings in the supporting structure, which fasteners present invention having its shank expanded to are so designed that relatively small and symact t e ad in Order to Permit t to be metrically formed openings can be used to bring entered-in the opening in the foundation and about the desired interlock between the fastener showing tin-expanding tool in saidshank. 55

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are respectively side, edge and plan views of the fastener included in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Figures '7, 8 and 9 are respectively side, edge .and plan views of a modified form of fastener. I Figure 10 is a view of a fragment of a trim panel provided with a preferred form of opening for the reception of the fastener'of Figures 7, 8 and 9.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures.

The preferred form of fastener illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6- is constructed from a single piece of wire, properly tempered after the piece of wire has been bent in the form of the fastener,

and comprises a shank part I 0 and a head part I I. The shank part III is formed from the mid-portion of the piece of wire. The head part II is formed from the end of the piece of wire.

Shank part III comprises a single'convolution of a coil l2, formed from the mid-portion of the wire, and two legs I3 and I4, thelegs l3 and 14 being outwardly bowed as illustrated particularly in Figure 4. If desired, the convolution l2 may be omitted. That is, the mid-portion of the wire may be merely bent at its middle to provide the nose or entering part of the shank and to form the outwardly bowed legs l3 and I4. Said legs provide holding portions that converge toward each other adjacent the head, and guiding portions that converge toward the end of the shank part III in a manner and for purposes now well understood in the art.

Legs I3 and M are preferably disposed in crossed relation adjacent the head part II for a purpose presently to be described.

Head part II consists of two hooks, the openings of which extend in opposite directions. Said hooks are formed from the ends of the piece of wire respectively. The right hand hook, viewing Figure 4, consists of a lower arm IS in the form of a loop. The upper arm of said hook consists of a straight portion l6 constituting the extreme end portion of the piece of wire, the arm it being connected to the lower arm 15 by a con-.- necting portion II. The left hand hook, viewing Figure 4, is similarly constructed, that is, it includes a lower arm i8 in the form of a loop, an outer arm of the piece of wire, and a connecting portion 20 serving to space the arm l9 above the arm l8' panel, the head sections are contracted so that the outer arms l6 and I9 are disposed in side by side relation as illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing in which 2| designates afragment of a foundation of the trim panel having an opening 22 for the reception of a fastener intended to secure a trim panel upon a supporting frame, such as the door frame of an automobile body for example, In entering the fastener in thefoundation 2|, the shank of the fastener is expanded, as by inserting the arms 23 and 24 of a pair of expanding pliers between the legs I3 and I4, and expanding the pliers so asto cause the legs 13 and Il to be widely separated. Such sepa- I9 constructed from the other end rational movement of the legs causes the head sections to move towards each other until the outer arms l6 and I! are disposed in side by side relation, or approximate side by side relation. The diameter of the opening 22 exceeds somewhat the length of the arms l6 and I! so that when said arms are in side byside relation the head part may be passed through the opening 22 until the loops l5 and 18, constituting the inner arms of the hooks, abut against the underside of the foundation. The expanding tool is then drawn from between the legs l3 and I4 and they are permitted to resume their normal position. In resuming such position, the hooks separate and return to their original position thus bringing the fastener into interlocked relation with the foundation withthe hooks in engagement with opposite sides of the opening 22 therein.

The final position of the fastener is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, in which figures the foundaering 25, the margins of which are lapped around the margins of the panel as indicated at 26, as

is usually the practice. In Figure 1 the fastener is shown in assembled relation to the completed panel. In Figure 2 the shank of the fastener has been entered in an aperture 21 of a metallic or like supporting structure 28. It will be observed that in forcing the shank of the fastener into the aperture 2.1 it is necessary to apply pressure in the direction of the length of the shank. Inasmuch as the loops l5 and I8, constituting the inner arms of the two hooks forming the head of the fastener, abut against the inside of the foundation, said loops serve to resist pressures applied in said direction so that under no circumstances can the head of the fastener be moved with respect to the foundation 2i. The upholstery material 25 is thus protected and it is not necessary that pressure be applied to the panel at a point exactly opposite the fastener, which in the course of application is not clearly visible to the operator applying the panel.

It will be observed further that in contracting the shank of the fastener, as it is passed through the aperture 21, that the hooks are forced into firm engagement with oppositewalls of the opening 22 in the foundation 2| inasmuch as contraction of the shank of the fastener causes the separation of the hooks constituting the head. When the fastener is in holding position, that is, in the position illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing, the shank of the fastener iscompressed somewhat from its normal-position so that in said position the hooks constituting the heads are forcedinto firm engagement with opposite walls -of the opening and maintained in this position. In this way there is no possibility of relative movement between the foundation and the fastener that secures it to the supporting structure 28.

The described construction is such as to permit ready interlock between the foundation and the fastener while at the same time providing a connection between the foundation'and the fastener that does not permit movement of the fastener with respect to the foundation after the interlock has been brought about in the directrated in Figures 7, 8 and 9, a fastener is disclosed having modified head sections. In this form of the invention the legs l3 and I4 are crossed adjacent the head section. Each head section consists of a straight portion 30 and a further straight portion 3| extending at right angles thereto. In interlocking the modified form of fastener of Figures 7, 8 and 9 with the foundation, the shank of the fastener is expanded to the dotted line position illustrated in Figure 7, such action tending to draw the head sections into side by side relation, said sections being, as illustrated, free to pass each other like the arms of a scissors. After the portions 3| have been brought side-by-side, the fastener may be passed through an opening in the foundation and the shank permitted to contract, such action serving to expand or separate the head sections, bringing the straight portions 30 into contact with opposite walls of the opening in the foundation.

Preferably, the fastener of Figures '7, 8 and 9 is used with a foundation 32 having a diamondshaped opening 33 formed therein as shown in Figure 10. When the fastener of Figures 7, 8 and 9 is entered in the opening 33, as illustrated,

- the straight portions 30 engage in opposite corners of said opening, such engagement preventing rotation of the fastener within the opening. The fastener is formed so that when it is interlocked with the foundation the straight portions Kill bear yieldingly and firmly in said corners, such action being relied upon to maintain the shank of the fastener truly normal to the plane of the foundation, thus facilitating the entry of the shank in the opening in the supporting structure. If desired, the portions '3l may be bent into the form of loops either complete or partial so that the fastener may engage the foundation over a large area. Such loops are desirable when the fastener of Figures '7, 8 and 9 are used with round openings. They are not required when. used with diamond-shaped openings, such as illustrated in Figure 10, because'the engagement of the straight portion 30 in opposite corners of such openings serve to maintain the shank of the fastener at right angles to the foundation and additional means for this purpose are not required. I

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative andnot restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is: 1. A spring stud fastener constructed from a piece of wire comprising a shank formed from the mid-portionof the piece of wire, said shank consisting only of two outwardly-bowed legs and a head part constructed from the ends of said piece of wire and consisting of two hook-like members, each of said members comprising a loop forming one arm of the hook and a straight portion forming the other arm of the hook.

2. A spring stud fastener constructed from a piece of wire comprising a shank formed from the mid-portion, of the piece of wire, said shank consisting-only of two outwardly-bowed legs and a head part constructed from the ends of said piece of wire and consisting of two hook-like members, each of said members comprising a loop forming one arm of the hook and a straight end portion forming the other arm of the hook, said legs crossing each other adjacent said members whereby contraction of the shank causes separation of said members.

3. A spring stud fastener comprising a shank in the form of an elongated loop providing two outwardly bowed legs connected together yieldingly at the end of the shank and two oppositelyopening hooks carried by said legs respectively, and forming the head of the fastener, said hooks being laterally offset each from the other so that they can be brought into side by side relation to permit entry thereof in an opening in a foundation having a cross dimension substantially smaller than the normal width of said head.

4. The fastener defined in claim 3 in which said legs are disposed in crossed relation adjacent the head whereby when .said shank is contracted in entering a perforation in a supporting structure said hooks are spread apart.

5. A fastening device comprising a head, a shank, said shank comprising leg members integraily united to form a leading end for the device, said leg members extending in converging relation toward the leading end of the device and being offset with respect to each other in normal, untensioned relation to dispose certain of the longitudinal edges of the leg members in diverging relation toward the head, and means provided on said'longitudinal edges adapted to engage in a work aperture to seat the device and resist withdrawal of the same from applied fastening position.

6. A fastening device comprising a head, a shank, said shank comprising leg members integrally united to form a leading end for the device, said leg members extending in diverging relation toward said head and being laterally offset with respect to each other in normal, untensioned relation, said leg members being provided with cam shoulders adapted to engage in a work aperture to seat the device in applied fastening position.

7. A fastening device comprising a head, a shank, said shank comprising leg members integrally united to form a leading end for the device, said leg members extending in converging relation toward the leading end of the device and being offset with respect to each other in normal, untensioned relation to dispose certain of the longitudinal edges of the leg members in diverging relation toward the head, said longitudinal edges having cam shoulders adapted to engage in a work aperture to seat the device in applied fastening position.

8. For use in apertured work of predetermined I thickness, a separable fastening device comprising a head, a shank, said shank comprising leg members extendin in diverging relation toward said head and being laterally offset with respect to each other in normal, untensioned relation, said head engaging one 'face of the work and said leg members being provided with a shoulder adapted to engage an opposite face of. the work adjacent the aperture and cooperate with said head to retain the device in applied fastening position.

a. m use. in apertured work of predetermined thickness, a separable fasteningdevice comprlsto each other in normal, untensioned relation,

a shoulder on each leg member adapted to en- 4 gage a face of the work adjacent the aperture and cooperate with said head engaging an opposite face of the work to retain the device in applied fastening position.

10, For use in apertured work of predetermined thickness, a separable fastening device comprising a head, a shank, said shank comprising leg members integrally united to form a leading end for the device, said leg members extendingdn converging relation toward the leading end of the device and being offset with respect to each other in no untensioned relation to dispose certain of the longitudinal edges of the leg members in diverging relation toward the head, said longitudinal edges being provided with shoulders adapted to engage a face of the work and cooperate with said head enzasins an opposite face of the work to retain the device in applied fastening position.

11. A one-piece wire fastener for securing molding or the like to 'a support comprising a wire bent mid-way its ends to form a shank poi' tion, the free-ends of said wire then beingerossed and bent in curved arms ina plane perpendicular to the plane of the said shank portion.

12. A. spring stud fastener, consisting of a shank part comprising two outwardly bowed legs integrally flexibly united at the entering and of the shank, and a head part comprising two relatively movable hook-like members carried respectively by said legs, each-of said hook-like members consisting in a pair of substantially parallel arms forming an opening between the arms bounded by spacedplanesnormal to the plane of movement of said legs.

13. A spring stud fastener, consisting of a shank part comprising two outwardly bowed legs integrally flexibly united at the entering end of the shank and oilset from each other laterally and a head part comprising two hook-like members carriedrespectively by said legs, each of said hook-like members consisting in a pair of substantially parallel arms forming an opening between the arms bounded by spaced planes normal to the planes of movement of said legs,

said hooks being arranged in laterally offset relation so that they may be disposed in side by side relation upon movement of said legs.

. BION 0. PLACE. 

